Emergency War Surgery NATO Handbook: Part I: Types of Wounds and Injuries: Chapter III: Burn Injury
United States Department of Defense
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Reviewed
Ignition of gasoline and other fuels accounts for the greatest number of thermal injuries. Flame or flash burns may be caused by various other agents contained in explosive devices. Casualties with chemical burns and burns from white phosphorus require immediate wound care in contrast to those with "conventional" burns. Thermal injury created by electric current also deserves separate consideration because of special treatment requirements.
Even in the combat zone, burns resulting from carelessness outnumber those resulting from hostile action. The enforcement of safety procedures and existing regulations will reduce such occurrences. The use of gloves, goggles, protective headgear, and flame retardant clothing by personnel at high risk will also minimize, if not prevent, thermal injury in those individuals. This equipment is particularly important to fire-rescue personnel, and the use of these items should be strictly enforced, even (within limits) at the expense of personal comfort.
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